Hora ya tambien.

Mas de maga gente ta desaleha kun el maga sementeryo. Nukere sila acorda kay el mga muerto tali lang are-redor na priyo, eskuru parte del mundo. Pero hinde sila debe mas man lingasa, kay el maga muerto hinde ya ta tarda na maga sepultura. El sunor del drums ta trabesa na maga lapida. El sunor hinde suena como kosa expectao na maga selebrasyon, kay el maga kalabera hinde man para ase sunor. Pero ya buska sila manera.

Baka ta estranya ustedes porque iyo taqui. Que porke un respetado mojer, igwal kumigo taki na sementeryo ta sigui el sunor para alya kanila. Ya prinsipya este na kuryusidad, como mas de maga kwento. El mi mayores ya abla kumigo nomas anda na sementeryo pero ya anda yo syempre, ansina de simple.

El primer notche iyo ya uyi kunel maga drums, ya mira yo kunel maga kabug y pero y insecto ya kambya. Ya pwede sila kumigo mira kwando ya bira sila, entonses nusabe yo kosa ase. Ya insinya sila kunel grande ojas de saging, y talya na ojas si Pay Tonio. Un mes antes, talya iyo na disuyu inchero.

Ya guia sila kumigo na kuerpo, y el kosa yo ta pwede mira, ta selebra sila. Makamyedo klase de Pyesta. Chene sila maga kutsilyo y armas de bukug. Pero ta sinti yo paz. Nuay sintimiento de myedo como mas de maga gente si sila el na miyo pwesto. Maskin kuwando ya oprese sila un pedazo karne del di ila kumida.

Hora ya tambien. Y ta puede iyo uyi ta keda mas suena el sunor del drums.

Este tyempo ta pensa yo, kien gaha el nuebo kumida?

=——————————-=

English Version

It’s time again.

Most people like to keep graveyards at a safe distance. They don’t like to be reminded that the dead still linger somewhere in the cold, dark earth, but they shouldn’t worry, the dead never stay in the grave for long. The drums ring across the gravestones. The sound isn’t as loud as you would expect from the celebrations, but human skulls weren’t made for noise. They had to be resourceful.

You would ask why I’m here. Why a respectable girl like me would be in a cemetery following the sound towards them. It all started with curiosity, like most stories do. My parents told me not to go to the graveyard, and I went. It was as simple as that.

The first night I heard the drums. I saw the bats and dogs and bugs turn into them. They looked at me as soon as they turned, and I didn’t know what to do. They pointed towards a huge banana leaf and on it was Manong Tonio. A month before I was at his funeral.

They led me to the body and I could see they were celebrating. It was a macabre fiesta. They had knives and clubs made out of bones and somehow, I felt at peace. I wasn’t scared as most people would be. Not even when they offered me a piece of their meal.

It’s time again and I can hear the drumbeats get louder.

I wonder who will be the feast this time.

=—————————————–=

*Chavacano or Chabacano refers to a number of Spanish-based creole language varieties spoken in the Philippines. The variety spoken in  Zamboanga City, located in the southern Philippine island group of Mindanao, has the highest concentration of speakers. Chavacano is the only Spanish-based creole in Asia.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Chavacano-Zamboangueño Translation by JC Duterte
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © JC Duterte

Inspired by the Kagkag entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Kagkag Illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

*Note this story is in Chavacano Zamboanga

Chene maga momento ta keda anyos si kere kita. El hora muchu amo,pero el bien mapwersa kon todo el meido. Ese iyo ya aprende kwanto anyos ya ya pasa.

Ele… Ele.. Nusabe iyo quilaya iyo detalla si konsa man akel. Ensegida le ya aparese.

No, Hendeh presto. Ta akorda yo el sunor del bayle de maga ojas. El blando risas de un hombre, y el olor de tabako. Ese hendeh gad iyo ay puede ulvida.

Alto ele. Mas alto kontra na maskin quien gente ay pwede keda. Ya supla le humo del de suyu sigarilyo y ya mira le kumigo.

Bien muchu iyo kosa ta ase de akel diya. Ta trabaha yo na un palayan serka na buukan. Mientras ta ase seka kunel maga ropa. kay para timing el ani si sinta ya yo na sombra de pono de balete

Ya dispierta yo y talya ele. Yan mirahan kame na unu y otro, que ya tarda como kwanto dia. Despues, ya kiembra el silencio cuando ya komberza le.

“Hola, Ta ama iyo kuntigo”

Chene maga cuentos acerca na maga kapre ta kere na maga mojeres. Ta acorda gane yo el cuento del un mojer kun nombre Juana. Que ya pursuegi kunele el un kapre y ka converti el kapre de suyu itsura y forma na nobyo di Juana. Ya tira kunel kapre maga bala estaba na pusil de maga pulis. Pero cuando ya mira sila kunel kapre ya incuntra sila pono de saging kun maga aguero de bala.

Hendeh con migo puede ayuda el maga bala ahora. Nusabe yo si kosa ay puede. Tres palabras lang kel pero ya ase con migo paralisao na miedo y ya empesa yo llura cuando ya kontesta yo.

“Nukere iyo kuntigo, nukonose gane yo kuntigo”

El itsura del de suyu kara ya abla con migo el kosa yo debe sabe. Ya ase yo kunele sinti duele. Mas de dolor na puede saka si ya tira kunele bala de un pusil.

Ya puma le otra vez y yan sonrisa.

“Konose lang tu con migo, y ama tambien tu con migo”

Despues ya perde para alya na suyu pono.

El kosa maka estranya na todo, que amo el kosa le ya abla. Cuantos anyos ya pasa, ya expectao yo chene con migo pursuigi un burujo, Ni nuay yo expectao kay ele ay keda miyo amigo, y mas pa.

Na de atun vida, chene gad maga kosas quita ta expecta que hendeh na sosede. Muchu gad sorpresa na di atun maga vida.

El kapre talya na primer vez  ya sinti duele el miyo corazon, kada playto del di miyo pamilya. Talya ele cuando ya muri el miyo mayor anak y cuando ya keda grande el miyo otro .

Ta dale le sinti suyu presensya na kada ulan de pyedra na di amun kasa, El olor de sigarilyo que ta liba el biento. Sabe yo tali lang ele pirmi. Ta protehe na silencio.

Ta devolve yo kuneste na manera que to pricura yo proteje kunel di su yu kasa, El pono de balete como kasa ya tambien di miyo. Cuantos notches ta mira yo maga estrellas na ciello mientras tanto ele ta mira con migo.

Ta sinta iyo aki, Otchenta verano ya ya pasa na miyo vida, y taki iyo na pono del bale junto kunel miyo amor.

“Konose yo kuntigo y ta ama yo kuntigo”

=—————–=

English Version

There are moments that stretch into years if you let them. Time has many masters, but none more potent than fear, this I learned many years ago.

It….He… I don’t know how to describe whatever it was. It just suddenly appeared before me, no, not suddenly. I remember the sound of rushing leaves, the soft laughter of a man and the smell of tobacco. I could never forget it.

He was tall, taller than any human had any right to be. He took a puff from his cigar and just stared at me.

I’m getting ahead of myself. I was doing chores in the field next to the forest, drying the laundry and making sure that the harvest would be ready when I sat under the Balete tree for some shade.

I woke up and he was there. We stared at each other for what felt like days, until he broke the silence.

“Hello, I love you.”

I had heard stories of the Kapre falling in love with human women before. I even remember a story of a girl named Juana who was stalked by her Kapre and the creature even changed form to be that of her lover. It was shot at by police officers but when they looked at the creature they only found a tall banana tree with bullet holes.

Bullets couldn’t save me now, I didn’t know what could. Three simple words were all that it took to paralyze me with fear and I cried as I said my reply.

“I don’t love you, I don’t even know who you are.”

The look on the Kapre’s face told me all I needed to know. I had hurt it. Far more than if I had taken a gun and shot it.

He took another drag out of his cigar and smiled.

“You will know me, and you will love me.”

Then, he vanished into his tree.

The strange part was he was right. Years had passed and I expected to be stalked by a monster, I had never expected that it… he… would become my friend, and then something more.

Life is full of expectations that are never met; it is even more full of surprises.

The Kapre was there through every broken heart, every fight with my family. He was there when I lost my first child, and when my other children grew to be strong.

He would show his presence in the small ways, a shower of stone outside my house, the smell of his cigar wafting on the wind, but I always knew he was there. A silent protector.

In return I would never let anyone harm his home, the Balete tree was as much my home as it was his. I spent countless nights, watching the stars with him watching over me.

And here I sit, 80 summers have passed through my life and I am under the Balete tree with my love.

“I know you, and I have loved you.”

=———————–=

*Chavacano or Chabacano refers to a number of Spanish-based creole language varieties spoken in the Philippines. The variety spoken in  Zamboanga City, located in the southern Philippine island group of Mindanao, has the highest concentration of speakers. Chavacano is the only Spanish-based creole in Asia.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Chavacano-Zamboangueño Translation by JC Duterte
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © JC Duterte

Inspired by the Kapre Myths and description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Kapre Illustration by Abe Joncel Guevarra
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joncel/

*Note this story is in Chavacano Zamboanga

Un noche, un cuago ya man tika de este cabeza desde un gueco na pono. El ulan ya man hinay na un taliti.

Siendo con hambre, ya estrecha este su maga alaz y ya vola na maga rama donde puede este encontra presa.

Ya imagina este su una sena este noche, quilaya hinde ya este ta puede espera machaca su presa y traga con este entero. El idea ya hace conele realmente almareao.

Ahora el cuago tiene bien bueno sentido de oida, de echo este experto oi maskin el pinakadiutay movimiento para cogi de este presa.

Mientras ya vola este encima de un sitio, ya puede este oi un sonor familiar.

El claro ritmo de ‘kik kik kik’.

Ay hinde era con este pone atencion el cuago como igual este pirmi ta hace, pero este curioso y ta queda ya fuerte el ulan. El maga cuago de vejes ya habla con el maga bata que este maga criatura hinde ta mete kanila, solamente na maga gente. Ya describe sila con detalle de este largo lengua, perchando na maga techo de maga casa de gente y el diila sonor otro clase.

Cerrando de este maga ojos, el cuago ya concentra para busca dond estaba el sonor, acordando cosa debe este busca.

Cuantos momentos despues, este confianza que ya puede loca donde el criatura.

Entonces, ya esta este donde el ventana y ya mira con el maga siguiente suceso.

Tiene tres gente ta dormi na costao de a uno’y otro. Un bata, un mujer que claro kay preñada y un hombre.

Maskin entrey alboroto del ulan, el cuago claro ta puede oi el sonor del tulo del un liquid na barriga del mujer. El cuago ya mira con ele levanta y pone tabo donde le parte. El mujer ya move y ya encontra otro lugar donde para dormi, pero otra vez el cuago ta puede oi el tulo ta tupa na su barriga na un tempo familiar.

Y aqui ya queda listo el orejas del cuago.

Y talla. ‘kik kik kik’

Dol aquel este un hutik, como el sonor ya traveza grande distancia para llega na diila maga orejas.

Ya enfria el sangre del cuago.

El hombre y el bata ya desperta na sonor y por instinto, el hombre ya saca un bolo y ya corre pa afuera.

Ya vola el cuago en frente del casa para mira cosa hace el hombre.

Ya grita el hombre, “Si ebo hinde deja dimiyo familia, ay anda yo na de bos casa mañana!” Este mientras ta taya le con su bolo el ulan.

En seguidas este ya para, y el cuago ta oi ya lang el taliti mientras ta dale este baña con el luna del medianoche.

El criatura ya sale, incapaz de sacar de este comida, y el cuago ya habla su cuerpo na este ay hinde socede conele este noche.

Mientras el cuago ya vola para busca presa, este ya pensa:

Sabe ba gayot el hombre donde el casa del tiktik?

=———————–=

English Version

One night, an owl poked its head out of its tree hole. The rain was weakening into a manageable shower.

Hungry as it was, it stretched its wings and flew to the perches where it could find prey.

It imagined its first meal of the night, how it couldn’t wait to crush their prey and swallow it whole. The thought made it positively giddy.

Now the owl had a very good sense of hearing, in fact it was adept at listening for even the slightest hints of movement to catch their quarry.

As it flew over a human village it heard a familiar sound.

The unmistakable cadence of ‘kik kik kik’.

The owl would have ignored it as it always had, but it was curious and the rain was starting to get stronger. The elder owls told the young that these creatures are harmless to their kind, only targeting humans. They described in detail the long tongue, perching on the roofs of human houses and their confusing sound.

Closing its eyes, the owl concentrated to find the source of the sound, remembering what it should be looking for.

After a few moments it was confident that it located where the creature would be.

So, it stayed by the window and watched the events unfold.

There were three humans sleeping side by side. One child, a woman that was clearly pregnant and a man.

Even through the noise of the raindrops the owl could clearly hear the sound of some liquid dropping on the stomach of the woman. The owl saw her stand up and put a dipper where she was. The woman moved and found another place to sleep, but again the owl could hear the same sound of droplets hitting her stomach in a familiar tempo.

And then the owl’s ears piqued.

There it was. ‘kik kik kik’

It was almost like a whisper, as if the sound traveled great distances to settle on their ears.

The owl’s blood ran cold.

The man and the child both woke up to the sound and almost through instinct the man grabbed a bolo and rushed outside.

The owl flew to the front of the house to see what the man would do.

The man shouted “If you don’t leave my family, I will go to your house tomorrow!” All the while swinging his bolo through the rain.

And in an instant, it stopped, the owl could only hear the pitter-patter of the drizzle as it washed over the midnight moon.

The creature left, unable to get its meal, and the owl scoffed and told itself that wasn’t going to happen to it tonight.

As the owl flew to its hunting grounds it wondered.

Did the man really know where the tiktik’s house was?

=————————-=

*Chavacano or Chabacano refers to a number of Spanish-based creole language varieties spoken in the Philippines. The variety spoken in Zamboanga City, located in the southern Philippine island group of Mindanao, has the highest concentration of speakers. Chavacano is the only Spanish-based creole in Asia.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Chavacano-Zamboangueño Translation by Marion Bais Guerrero
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Marion Bais Guerrero

Story inspired by a story told by Gil Geolingo

Tiktik Illustration by Gil Geolingo

*Note this story is in Chavacano/ Chabacano Caviteno

El monstruo del Rio Linothangan

Una mujer tá de pie na orilla de rio ta buscando de mana respuestas. No sabe ele porque tana este lugar ele otra vez. Deseo de ele antes pa, di rompí el mana grillos de este pequeñito pueblo y man arriesgá na mundo mas grande, para difundir sus mana alas y volar. Pero como ícaro ele ya quemá.

Agora ,ta quedando ele con su familia otra vez, pero no ese ta sentí como casa para ele. El sonido del río ta calmá su alma atribulada. Masque onde man ele anda , el agua el que ta buscá ele primero.

Allí estaba el Danube, claro que si , sus besos ta perdurá pa masque después de muchos años, pero na un momento todo ya quedá lavada. Su corazón nunca di pertenecé con masque quien man, al menos na su mente.

No ele ya queda costumbrao con el frio; el trópico tiene un pag garrá con ele que , nunca ele puede  di quebrá, pero vale la pena masqui na, para di mirá el subida del sol hace pintá el hielo con  un pincel escarlata.

Ele ya frotá sus brazos y pensar sobre el calor achicharrante del río Nilo. Sus mana amigos ya advertí con ele ya, puede ele di cojé un fiebre, pero no ele ya escuchá na ilos. El llamao del agua, es tan recio para ele di resistí.

La iluminación, el que ya buscá ele na río Ganges , el timor na mana rápidos del río Chilko, mana migos del todo la vida na pag navigando pa bajo del río Mississippi, y el pag asombrá na mana luces Nagas na río Mekong.   Y cosa ba ele ta podí buscá na río Linothangan ? No ele saber, y no quiere ele saber.

Ya quedá tarde ya, y ele ya reprendí su mismo, porcasa,  no ele ya cabá nada na todo’l dia. Mas mejor si ya gastá su hora man buscá trabajo o hací mana tareas rutinas na casa, o …. Nada . ansina ya man su vida agora.

Su pelo y su mana ropas calao y goteando na mana piedras del río na bajo de su mana pies, ya cerrá ele, sus mana ojos y ya respirá ele profundo. Cuando ele ya abrí sus ojos, ele ya quedá sorprendido na un visita que ya inmiscuí na su paz. Na frente de ele quedá un criatura chiquito.

“Hola,” ya bisá el criatura. “ ¿quien uste ?”

Su alma, casi ya escapá su cuerpo na surpresa, “¡ay dios mio ! no vos hace quel! Me vos ya asustá. ”

“ lo siento mucho ñorita, solo quiere yo jugar con alguien.” ya bisa el criatura

“  pues…” ya respondí ele

“ por favor ñorita, ta quedá yo tan solo aquí na rio, nadie ta andá quí y yo ta sentí tan solo.” ya bisá el criatura

Ele ya está pie y ya obtené un mejor mirada del muchacho, el criatura ya reculdá ele a uno de su mana primo na mismo edad y energía, este tipo de criatura es el tipo que ta peleá un respuesta de ‘no, incluso na frente de averia .

“ ¿cosa vos quiere jugar ?” ya preguntá ele

“ …… Sabe yo ! aquí , gara vos este bola y tirá vos ese na rio , y di trapá yo ese !” ya respondí el criatura.

“ divertido be ese para vos ?” ya bisa ele

“ ¡ por favoooorrrr !” ya exclamá el criatura

“ pues , bien bien .” ya respondí ele

Su rostro ya traicioná un sonrisa, el primero que ya monstrá ele desde pa, na su pag regresá na pueblo, y si él criatura es correcto , este es divertido , casi ya  olvidá ele sobre todo que ya pasá.

Ya tirá ele el bola na décimo vez , y ya anda ese na derecha del muchacho, y el criatura ya intentá nadar tan rápido como ele ta podí. Pero de repente , el criatura ya pará , y el bola ya flotá lejos

“ ¿hoy, muchacho porque vos no ta perseguí el bola? No ba quel el punto de este juego?” ya preguntá ele

“ No yo puede anda allá señorita, no na quel parte del río.” ya respondí él criatura.

“ ¿ Cosa vos quier bisá, muchacho ?” ya pregunta ele

“ ta bisá de ilos , peligroso raw di anda allá. Todo de maná ancianos na pueblo ta prohibí niso pa’ anda allá.” ya respondí él criatura.

“ pues .. no ilos aqui agora no ? anda niso para cogé el bola.” ya bisa ele, na criatura, pero no pa ya moví el criatura.

“ ya anda yo allá guna vez ñorita, ya queda ese largo tiempo ya, pero ta reculdá yo pa. Hay algo na río.” ya respondí él criatura

“ sabe vos ba si cosa queda quel ?” ya pregunta el mujer

“ tal vez , queda ese el hombre oscuro.” ya respondí el criatura

“ ¿cosa ba vos ta bisando ?” ya interrumpí el mujer

“ ya bisá mi Aguela hay un hombre oscuro que ta quedá cerca del río, no quiere ele ninguno di andá na su lugar.” ya bisá el criatura.

El mujer ya quedá y anda na muchos partes del mundo y ya visitá ele este mana lugares un montón de veces. No ele extranjera na mana cuento cuento . ta parecía nervioso el criatura, pero hay fuerza na mana números.

“ hoy , anda vos conmigo, sigurao yo cosa man aquel, no puede ese di ganá contra de niso dos.” su segundo sonrisa ya dale confianza na criatura y ya tomá el muchacho su mano.

“ bueno ñorita, yo ta confiá na ti.” ya bisá el criatura

Ya caminá ilos na orilla del río siguiendo el corriente .  el mochacho ya salgá na agua por muchos tiempos ya, pero parece que sus ropas nunca ta pará el su pag goteá.

“ caminá vos na mi lado ,¿vale? No yo quiere di  queda mojao mi mana ropas .” ya bisa el mujer

“ vale.” ya respondí el criatura

El bajao del sol ya quedá cerca y después de muchos veces ilos ya atentá coger el bola, ya brillá el suerte con ilos finalmente. El corriente ya pará , y ya dejá el bola estático na superficie del agua.

“ ¿pues … cosa ta esperando vos ?” ya bisá el mujer “ bueno vos ya man, man nadar, el bola no tá masiao lejos. Anda ya vos y cogé ese na agua, y retirá ya vos na casa.”

“ ta creé yo no niso debe queda quí ñorita.” ya bisá el criatura con nervios

“ hoy hoy hoy criatura, ¿ven ya y cogé ya niso vos bola, vale ? nohay nada quí .” ya bisa’l mujer con consuelo.

“ yo ta reculdá , ya andá ya yo aquí !” exclamá’l muchacho

“ ¿cosa vos ta reculdá?” ya preguntá’l mujer

“ di vení ese aquí ! por favor, corré ! “ ya exclamá’l muchacho

“ esperá …” ya bisá’l mujer

Na ese memento , un figura ya subí desde’l agua . tiene ese mana tentáculos que ya reculdá el mujer de un pulpo. Ya garrá el monstruo el bola y el criatura ya gritá

“ el hombre oscuro no quiere a nadie di andá na su casá !” el muchacho ya garrá su cabeza y ya caé na sus mana rodillas.

“ ven ya !” ya bisá’l mujer, mientra ya garrá ele el brazo del muchacho pero ya quedá como un piedra el criatura, nada ta podi mové el muchacho.

“¡ lo siento ! lo siento ! deja me salí ! deja me salí !” el criatura ya gritá más recio. Sus mana lagrimas ya mezclá con el vaho tá goteando na suelo.

“¡ niso tiene que corré ! , no ta podí ese di capturá niso , si di andá niso lejos desde’l río.” ya bisá’l mujer na criatura. El criatura ya mirá na mujer con desesperación na su mana ojos.

“No yo ta podí deja el río, nunca yo ta podí , sino …..” ya bisá el criatura

“ ¿sino .. cosa ?” ya exclamá’l mujer y agora tá moviendo ya el monstruo hacia ilos, no quiere ele di sabé quelaya largo ta podí alcanzá el mana tentáculos del monstruo.

Ya señalá el muchacho na bola,

Su mente ya quedá enredao, debe ele di corré, imposible ese , no puede ele man pelear con el monstruo. No ese su problema, si no quiere el muchacho di seguí, problema ya del muchacho aquel. Debe ele di pensá con su mismo, y con su mismo numa.

El monstruo ya moví lentamente más cerca, todavía tá sosteniendo pa el bola. Tá desafiando su instinto, el mujer ya corré hacia el monstruo. El mana tentáculos de monstruo ya lanzá hacia ele, pero solo ya pegá ese el agua vacía. Ya gastá ele su vida alrededor del maná ríos, y con ese, vení el habilidad que ta dejá sorprendido masqui quien man mana nadadores experimentaos.

Ya rodeá el mujer el monstruo, para di intentá queda confundido ese. despues , ele ya lanzá hacia el tentáculo que ta sostená el bola. Na este punto, no hay ya ele ma pensá di hací. Ta podé ele contené su respiración mas largo que un gente normal, ¿pero ta quedá ba este tiempo suficiente, para di cogé el bola na monstruo.?

Ya cogá ele el bola na monstruo, y ya sentí ele un calor suave que ya rodeá na su cuerpo. “ yo ta confiá na ti ñorita.” el voz del muchacho ya resoná na sus mana orejas. Un destello brillante ya inundá el bola y ya queda ese librao na garras del tentáculo.

Con el esfera na bajo de su codo, ele ya serpenteá a travéz del agua como un delfín, esquivando el mana intentos torpes del monstruo, para di capturá ele.

Tan pronto como ya salí ele del agua, ya corré ele mas lejos que ya podí ele na río. Ya ardé sus pulmones , y ya caé ele na suelo.

Ya queda ele despertada na un suave susurro. El muchacho, tá de pie na frente de ele,

Su forma translúcida, el muchacho ya sonreí, y ya tomá su mano, “ sabe yo ta podí yo di confiá na ti ñorita.”

Ya abrasá ele el criatura por cosa ta sentí como un eternidad, hasta ya derretí el muchacho, y el luz ya desvanecí.

El mujer ya retirá na casa, mojao ya mojao ya pedí ele con su aguela un toalla , para di quedá seguro no ele di goteá na dentro del casa. Mientras ele ta secá su cuerpo , ele ya preguntá con su aguela sobre el río.

Su aguela ya respondí “ ¿ aquel lugar ? mucho tiempo que ya pasá un hombre ya andá pescá na quel vanda del río. Nunca ele ya riterá, quel pobre alma. Ya bisá del otro otro, ya quedá un grande bestia cual ya atrapá ele, pero queda probablemente el corriente del agua. A veses di quedá violente el río y ta llevá ese el mana pobre si onde onde que nadie de niso sabe, ‘especialmente el mana criatura, siempre ta jugando na río, ta perdí niso uno, cada unos años.”

Ya dalé ele gratitud con su aguela y ya andá ele na su dormitorio.

¿ Cosa ya buscá ele na río Linothangan ?

Paz

Finalmente

Paz …..

=———————-=

English Version

A woman stood by the riverside looking at the water for answers.

She didn’t know why she was back in this place. It had always been her desire to break the shackles of this small barangay and taking a chance in the bigger world, to spread her wings and fly to the sun.

But, like Icarus, she burned.

Now she was living with her family again, though it didn’t feel like home.

The river’s sound soothed her troubled soul. No matter where she went, water would be the first thing that she sought out.

There was the Danube, of course. The taste of his kiss still lingered, even after all these years. But in a moment, it was all washed away. Her heart could never belong to anyone, at least in her mind.

The cold never sat well with her; the tropics had a hold that she could never seem to break. It was worth it though, to see the sun rise and paint the ice with a scarlet brush.

She rubbed her arms and thought back to the blistering heat of the Nile. Her friends warned her that she might catch the fever, but she didn’t listen. The call of the water was too strong for her to fight.

Enlightenment was what she found in the Ganges.

Fear in the rapids of Chilko.

Lifelong friends cruising down the Mississippi.

Wonder at the Naga lights of the Mekong.

And what would she find in the Linothangan? She didn’t know.

She didn’t want to know.

It was late in the afternoon and she chided herself. She had done nothing the whole day. The time could have been spent finding work or doing chores or…. Nothing. That was what her life was now anyway.

She closed her eyes and breathed deep.

When she opened them, she was surprised to find a visitor intruding on her… nothing.

It was a small boy, her hair and clothes dripping on the river rocks.

“Hello,” he said. “Who are you?”

Her soul almost escaped her body. “Don’t do that! You startled me!”

“I’m sorry. I just want someone to play with.”

“Well…”

“Please, miss. I’ve been so lonely here by the river. No one goes here and I’m so alone.”

She stood up and got a better look at the boy. He reminded her of one of her cousins, same age and same energy. This was the type of child that would fight a ‘no’ even in the face of failure.

“What do you want to play?”

“….I know! Here, grab this ball and throw it in the river so I can catch it!”

“Really? You think that’s fun?”

“Pleeeeaaaasseee”

“Okay, okay.”

Her face betrayed a smile, the first since she got back. He was right, this was fun. It almost made her forget about what happened.

She tossed the ball again for the 10^th time and it washed away to the right of the boy. He tried to swim as fast as he could, but suddenly froze as the ball drifted.

“Hey, why aren’t you chasing the ball? Isn’t that the whole game?”

“I can’t go there miss, not in that part of the river.”

“What do you mean?”

“They say it’s dangerous to go there. All the old people forbid it.”

“Well they’re not here are they? Let’s get your ball.”

The boy still didn’t move.

“I went there once miss. It was a long time ago, but I can still remember. There’s something in the river.”
“Do you know what that something was?”

“Maybe it was the dark man.”

“What are you talking about?”

“My lola said that there was a dark man living by the river. He doesn’t want anyone to go to his place.”

She had been around the world a dozen times and was no stranger to tall tales. The boy looked really nervous, but there was strength in numbers.

“Hey, go with me. I’m sure whatever it is it can’t take the both of us.”

Her second smile of the day made the boy nod and take her hand.

“Okay miss. I trust you.”

They walked down the river following the current. The boy had been out of the water for a while but it seemed that he would never stop dripping.

“Just walk next to me okay? I don’t want to get my clothes wet.”

“Alright.”

It was nearing sundown and after a few miscalculated attempts at grabbing the ball, luck finally shined on them. The current stopped, which left the sphere static on the river.

“Well what are you waiting for?” she said. “You’re a pretty good swimmer, the ball’s not that far. You can grab it and go home.”

“I don’t think I should be here miss.”

“Hey, come on, let’s get your ball alright? There’s nothing here.”

“I’ve been here before miss. I can remember.”

“Remember what?”

“It’s going to come here! Please miss run!”

“Wait—–”

At that moment a figure emerged from the water. It had tentacles and reminded her of an octopus. It held the ball and the boy cried out, “The dark man doesn’t like people to come to his place.” He clutched his head and dropped to his knees.

“Let’s go!” she grabbed the boy’s arm but it was as if he was made of stone, nothing could move him.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Please just let me leave!!” The boy cried out even harder, his tears mixed with the moisture dripping to the ground.

“We have to run! It can’t catch us if we go away from the river.”

The boy looked at the woman with despair in his eyes.

“I can’t leave the river. I never could. Not as long as—–”

“As long as what?!” The monster was moving towards them now, she didn’t want to know how long its tentacles could reach.

The boy pointed at the ball.

Her mind was a whirlwind. She should run, there was no way that she could fight the monster. It wasn’t her problem, if the boy didn’t want to follow that was on him. She should think of herself.

Just herself.

Just like then.

The creature was inching closer to the riverbank still holding the ball. In defiance of her instincts, she ran towards it. The monster’s tentacles darted towards her but they only hit empty water.

She spent her life around rivers and with that came a dexterity that surprised even the most experienced of swimmers.

She rounded the creature, trying to confuse it and plunged to the tentacle that had the ball.

At this point she was out of ideas. She could hold her breath for longer than a normal person, but would that be enough time to wring the ball from the monster.

She grabbed the ball and felt a gentle heat surround her.

“I trust you miss.” The boy’s voice echoed in her ears.

A bright flash suffused the ball and tore it away from the tentacle.

With the orb under her elbow she weaved through the water like a dolphin, dodging the monster’s clumsy attempts to catch her.

As soon as she surfaced, she ran as far as she could away from the river.

Her lungs burned and she fell to the ground.

She was awakened with a gentle whisper.
The boy stood in front of her, his form translucent. He smiled and took her hand.
“I knew I could trust you miss.”

She hugged him for what felt like an eternity, until he melted away and the light faded.

The woman returned home, soaked. She asked her lola for a towel to make sure she didn’t drip inside.

As she was drying herself, she asked her lola about the river.

“Oh that place? A long time ago a man went fishing in that part of the river. He never came back, the poor soul. Some say it was a giant beast that got him, but it was probably the current. The river gets violent sometimes and carries them off to who knows where. ‘specially the kids, always playing in the river, we lose one every few years.”

She thanked her lola and went into her room.

What had she found in the Linothangan river?

Peace

Finally

Peace

=—————————=

*Chavacano or Chabacano is a group of Spanish-based creole language varieties spoken in the Philippines. The variety spoken in Zamboanga City, located in the southern Philippine island group of Mindanao, has the highest concentration of speakers.  Currently existing varieties are found in Cavite City and Ternate, located in the Cavite province on the island of Luzon. Chavacano is the only Spanish-based creole in Asia.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Stacy Paredes Foote
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Stacy Paredes Foote

Inspired by the tale ‘The Monster’ in Negros Oriental and Siquijor Island Legends, Beliefs and Folkways. Aldecoa-Rodriguez. 2000.

The Monster of Linothangan River Illustration by Fam Telmo

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*Note this story is in Chabacano/ Chavacano Caviteño

El futuro guarda mucho caminos contodo ta busca, pero tiene ta existe seres capaces de vislumbrar el flujo eterno de la existencia. En su mirada baila lo infinito, las innumerables el mana posibilidad si cosa el puede, si cosa de pude, y si cosa el debe.

Uno no pudi evita pregunta si el futuro es niso prisión. La verdadera y precisa comprensió del futuro implica que existe un existencia asegurada de un futuro. Si este el caso, entonces todo las almas está atadas baila sin sentido de la vida. Si cosa de pasa, de pasa. El destino es el verdadero amo del universo.

Tiene naman otro que ta habla el futuro como un río ramificado. El cada acción ta abre un sinfín de nuevo posibilidad na ta multiplica hasta el infinito. El mana opciones esti, ta crea futuros incontables, un arroyo serpenteante de futuros podría ser y solo llega existe si justo opciones que ya saca, posibilidad infinito que ta extiende hacia lo desconocido.

El más miedo futuro de todos es aquel que no ta existe. El pasado, el presente y el futuro pudi realmente para con niso, pero depende únicamente na punto de vista de niso. La realidad ordena a través de un infinito, un en el grupos de tiempo, espacio y espacio-tiempo ya buta na caos tridimensional.

Si cosa el futuro ta guarda, el uno que ta mira ilos todos nuway opción si no juga su papel. Pudi ser guías haci un eternidad dichosa o simples títeres en el juego cruel de un universo. Pero de cualquier manera, bebe su vino y toca su música.

Ta mira ilo el pasado velo de la eternidad. Solo los necios no de oi el pito del mana ponu.

=————————=

English Version

The future holds many paths to those that seek them, yet there are beings that can see into the ebb and flow of eternity. In their gaze dances the infinite, the scores upon scores of possibilities of what can, what will, and what must.

One cannot help but wonder if the future is our prison. True, accurate knowledge of the future implies that there is an assured existence of a future. If this is the case then all souls are bound to the meaningless dance of life. What will happen, will happen. Fate is the true master of the universe.

Then there are those that say the future is a branching river. Each action opens up a host of new possibilities that multiply into infinity. It is through these choices that uncountable futures are made, a winding stream of futures that may be, and will only come into existence if the right choices are made, infinite possibilities stretching into the unknown.

The most frightening future of all is one that doesn’t exist. The past, present and future may be real to us, but that is only dependent on our point of view. Reality is ordered through an infinite, one where clumps of time, space and space-time are thrown into four-dimensional chaos.

Whatever the future holds, those that see have no choice but to play their part. They may be the guide to a blissful eternity, or mere puppets in a cruel universe’s game. But either way they will drink their wine and play their music.

They see past the veil of eternity. Only the foolish would not listen to the whistles in the trees.

=———————————————————–

*Chavacano or Chabacano is a group of Spanish-based creole language varieties spoken in the Philippines. The variety spoken in Zamboanga City, located in the southern Philippine island group of Mindanao, has the highest concentration of speakers.  Currently existing varieties are found in Cavite City and Ternate, located in the Cavite province on the island of Luzon. Chavacano is the only Spanish-based creole in Asia.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Arlene Cortes
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Arlene Cortes

Inspired by the Palasekan description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Palasekan Illustration by Fam Telmo

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*Note this story is in Chabacano-Zamboangueño

TOK, TOK, TOK

Ya re si Lana. Sabe le kay ay recibi ya tamen le regalo. Un semana pa lang el ya pasa cuando ya recibi le un regalo y ta pensa le cosa ya tamen gaha le recibi ahora. Maga rubi y perlas ya tamen gaha. Palta orihinalidad el quien secreto ta adora conele pero quiere-quiere gat este dale maga caro cosas. Tiene tambien poema adentro del regalo na ta manda con Lana sinti especial, mas especial pa con el maga joya.
Nuay pa mira si Lana con el ta imbia conele bale-bale regalo, pero ta sinti ele na ta semeha el di ila costumbre.

Ya abri le con el puerta y ya recibi con el pakete. Mas pesao ese na maga ya recibi le antes. No puede mas le espera poreso ya abri le dayon con este. Adentro, tiene mucho alajas de oro: pulceras, kwintas, y na medio, un diamante anillo. Ya saka le con el carta na ta abla: MAN MIRAHAN KITA APUERA.

Serka perde disuyo resuello. Man mirahan ya gat sila del hombre del disuyo sueño. No puede le move disuyo maga pies. Hende le preparao; ni nuay le bestida para camina pero dejalo ya. Ya dura ya le esperanza con este, hende ya le manda pa con ese pasa.

Na libro lang le ta puede le ancina clase cuento, aquel man mirahan ya el dos man amores y man lumos sila na pasion y maravilla.

Ya pensa le con el futuro, el cosa ay pasa. Na disuyo imahenasion el maga mar y monte donde sila ay anda, el maga problema ay tiene sila. Ya pensa tamen le con el grande casa donde sila queda, el alegre pamilia ay tiene sila, y el maga año hasta queda sila biejo.

Ya saka le con el anillo y ya usa con ese. Bien bonito gat este si ta tupa na sol del tarde.

Ya core si Lana pa apuera y yan tisud. Ya oi le bos na disuyo detras y ya mira con el un diutay biejo na tiene largo balbas y tungkod na mano. Yan mirahan sila dos cabar ya abla el biejo,
“Buenas, mi amor.”
————————–————————–————————––

English Version

–TOK –TOK– TOK–

Lana smiled. She knew that the sound meant that she would be getting another present. It had only been a week since the last box and she wondered what was inside it this time. More rubies and pearls, she thought. Her secret admirer was never original, but it seemed he had expensive tastes. The boxes would also be filled with a poem just for her which made her feel more special than the glittering stones. Lana had never met the man responsible for her wonderful gifts, but she sensed that they were kindred spirits.

She opened the door and took the package from her doorstep. It was heavier than the other ones, and Lana couldn’t wait and tore it open. Inside there were piles of gold jewelry: bracelets, necklaces and in the middle, there was a gleaming ring embedded with a diamond. She grabbed the letter underneath the ring and it read “MEET ME OUTSIDE.”

Her heart almost stopped. She was finally going to meet the man of her dreams. Lana felt like her legs were stuck to the floor, she wasn’t prepared for any of this, she didn’t even have a good dress ready but that didn’t matter. She had waited so long for this

moment, she couldn’t forgive herself if she would just let it pass.

This was just like one of her books, the great moment when she would meet the love of her life and they would be swept away in the thrills of passion and wonder.

She dreamed of her future, what it would be. In her mind she could see the oceans and peaks they would travel to, the trials she knew they would face. She thought of a big house, a wonderful family and growing old together. She took the ring from the box and put it on; it was beautiful in the afternoon sunlight.

Lana ran outside and tripped on something. She heard a loud yelp from behind her and saw a very small old man with a long beard and a staff looking up at her. They looked into each other’s eyes and he said “Hello my love.”

————————–————————–————————––

*Chavacano or Chabacano refers to a number of Spanish-based creole language varieties spoken in the Philippines. The variety spoken in Zamboanga City, located in the southern Philippine island group of Mindanao, has the highest concentration of speakers. Chavacano is the only Spanish-based creole in Asia.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Chavacano-Zamboangueño Translation by May Temple Maravilles
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © May Temple Maravilles

Story inspired by the Nuno sa Punso legends

Watercolor by Tara Singson
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*Note this story is in Chavacano-Zamboangueño

Tiene un niño quien jende ta puede durmi.

Todo’l noche, acostao lang le dispierto, esperando con el tiempo cuando ay puede ya le durmi. Cosa-cosa medecina ya yan reseta conele el maga doctor pero nuay lang siempre epecto.

Ya cumbinsi conele el disuyo amiga pruba otro solusion. Ya manda conele concentra na un cosa, na un cosa lang para queda calma disuyu pensamiento y resuello.

Ya pensa le na nuay ay cosa perde conele si pruba le. Na primer noche, ya pensa le con el dos luz na camino na ta puede le mira estaba na ventana. Ya mira le buenamente con esos y ala mañana, ya espanta kay buenamente le ya dispierta.

Ya continua le con ese na cuatro noche pa y ya obserba kay epektibo gayot. Na ika-cinco noche, ya obserba le kay ta queda ya iscuro el maga luz como ta queda pundido, pero ya concentra lang siempre le con estos y ya puede durmi.

Ala mañana, ya atraca le na ventana para mira si tiene ba problema el maga luz. Serca perde el su rusuello cuando ya mira le con el maga marca de cambras na ventana.

Na mismo noche, ya tapa le manta con el entero cuerpo disuyo y ya pensa otro cosa. Pero bien de ficil gat ‘ste ace.

Ya bira el maga luz.

Y mas arde ya ahora.

————————–————————–————————–—–

English Version

There was once a boy who had a terrible case of insomnia.

Night after night he would stay awake, trying to pass the time until he could finally get to sleep. The doctors tried to give him different drugs so he could sleep better but they didn’t help.

Finally, his friend suggested another method to help him deal with his problem. She told him to find something to focus on, just one thing and to see it in his mind’s eye. To think about it until his body was calm and his breath was slow.

The boy didn’t have anything to lose so he tried it. The first night when he was in his room he decided to focus on two street lights he saw from his window. He looked right into them, focused as much as he could and to his surprise, the next day, he woke up after a good night’s rest.

For four nights the boy continued this new method and every time it worked. On the fifth night, he noticed that the lights were fading in and out, like something was broken, but he focused anyway and he managed to get some sleep.

The next morning he went to his window to see what was wrong with the lights. He almost couldn’t breathe when he saw the claw marks by his windowsill.

That night he put his blanket over his head and he tried to focus on something else. But that was a very difficult thing to do.

The lights were back.

And they were brighter than ever.

————————–————————–————————–—–

**Chavacano or Chabacano refers to a number of Spanish-based creole language varieties spoken in the Philippines. The variety spoken in Zamboanga City, located in the southern Philippine island group of Mindanao, has the highest concentration of speakers. Chavacano is the only Spanish-based creole in Asia.

Chavacano-Zamboangueño Translation by May Temple Maravilles
Translation Copyright © May Temple Maravilles

Story adapted from Kubot entry in Myth Museum. Medina. 2015. And a half-remembered Creepypasta

Kubot Illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
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Watercolor by Nicole Chiu
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